5 Steps the Dallas Cowboys can still make to salvage free agency
By Reid Hanson
Dallas Cowboys salvage plan
Step 2: Danielle Hunter/Za’Darius Smith, DE
Danielle Hunter is not a free agent but he’s available and the clock is ticking. The star pass rusher from Minnesota is on the books for roughly $25M this season and the Vikings need to move him before his $18M bonus kicks in on Sunday.
Hunter, 27, may have missed significant time the last two seasons but he’s young and one of the best pass-rushers on the planet. Assuming his medicals check out, he will be a steal on the trade market.
His contract is manipulatable so he’s going to cost well below current market prices even if the Dallas Cowboys don’t extend him. With nine picks in the draft Dallas has the firepower to get a deal done and it probably will only cost a couple Day 3 picks.
If Hunter doesn’t work, Za’Darius Smith is back on the market. Backing out of a modest deal with the Ravens, the former Packer is looking for more than he original settled for. Sidelined with back issues last season, Smith comes with some medical risk, but he’s a great player who if cleared, could be a huge addition to the Dallas Cowboys defense.